Buckeyes could achieve very interesting NFL Draft feat

by WKRC

FILE - In this Oct. 22, 2016, file photo ,Ohio State's Malik Hooker (24) hits Penn State's Mike Gesicki (88) as he tries to catch a pass during the first half of an NCAA college football game in State College, Pa. Coaches saw Hooker’s potential before the season and knew they’d have to rely on him to help shore up the secondary after the departure of Vonn Bell, Tyvis Powell and Eli Apple. (AP Photo/Chris Knight, File)

CINCINNATI (WKRC) - The 2016 NFL Draft was one for the Ohio State record books. And with a repeat performance, the Buckeyes football program will accomplish something not done in over 60 years.

Last year, OSU had three players selected in the top 10, a total of five in the first round and 12 in the first four rounds. It was the fourth time the school had at least a dozen players picked.

SCHOOLS WITH 12+ PLAYERS DRAFTED IN ONE YEAR

1984 17 Texas

1946 16 Notre Dame

1945 15 Notre Dame

1953 15 USC

1975 14 USC

2004 14 Ohio State

1944 13 Notre Dame

1950 13 Minnesota

1971 13 Ohio State

1975 13 Ohio State

1977 13 USC

1987 13 Penn State

1988 13 Oklahoma

1944 12 USC

1944 12 Texas

1950 12 Notre Dame

1952 12 Maryland

1954 12 Notre Dame

1974 12 UCLA

1975 12 Nebraska

1976 12 Colorado

1981 12 Pittsburgh

1982 12 Texas

1988 12 Miami (Fla)

2016 12 Ohio State

Another 10 players are slotted to get drafted in the first two rounds in 2017, led by DBs Gareon Conley, Marshon Lattimore and Malik Hooker. If all three are off the board in the top 15 selections, it would mark the first time since 1954-55 that a college football team would have back-to-back years with a trio of top-15 picks. That nugget comes from Dane Brugler, Senior NFL Draft Analyst for NFLDraftScout and CBS Sports.

In 2016, Ohio State's Joey Bosa (third overall to San Diego Chargers), Ezekiel Elliott (fourth to Dallas Cowboys) and Eli Apple (10th to New York Giants) were all top-10 selections.